Numerous Katy ISD schools will benefit from ARTreach Programs this year
February 4, 2010, Katy, Texas – ARTreach has just announced the list of Katy ISD schools that applied and have been selected to benefit from a variety of ARTreach Projects this semester. Benefitting campuses includes Schmalz Elementary, Raines High School, Opportunity Awareness Center, West Memorial Junior High, Morton Ranch Junior High, Rhoads Elementary and McRoberts Elementary. Other schools have applied for support and additional projects will be reviewed in March.
Photo above includes Schmalz Elementary Principal Karen Ladner, Assistant Principal Lorraine White, and Science team leader, Lynette Campbell along with Terri Bieber and Vickie McMillan of ARTreach. Schmalz Elementary was awarded their project based on their application which included a statement of need and their high interest in having an interactive mural created to support visual learning in Science. ARTreach calls projects like this “SM-ART”, because they combine Science and/or Math teaching objectives with visual arts learning opportunities. Schmalz’s project is a 9 x 65 foot mural that spans the 4th and 5th grade hallway, visually illustrating lessons associated with 4th and 5th grade curriculum including earth life cycles. This is a $20,475 interactive mural project benefiting the Schmalz school community of over 1048 students annually. The project is funded by grants and donations made to ARTreach supporting underserved schools in Katy.
Many of the Katy ISD schools applied for and will be receiving similar mural projects that integrate fine arts with other core educational objectives including STEM Science, Technology, Engineering and Math, or projects that focused on Character Education and Development. ARTreach is offering additional and unique Artist in Residence support to West Memorial Junior High in recognition of their counselor’s newest support program for girls called The ROSE (The Rising of Self-Esteem).
Over $78,000 in project support has already been pledged or distributed this year within Katy ISD and a list of social service agencies in Katy, Richmond and Houston including, Houston Aids Foundation patient center, Pregnancy Help Center of Katy, Coalition of Behavioral Health Services & Partnership for a Drug-Free Spring Branch, Houston Harris County Juvenile Detention Center, Houston Domestic Abuse Center and a number of CPS placement centers and youth shelters.
For more information and details about each project and how the community is involved, please contact Terri Bieber at ARTreach 281-392-5341 or visit www.artreachonline.org
